November 25, 2022 Verse Of The Day
Opportunities
Joshua 18:3 Take What God Has Given You
So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you?” Joshua 18:3
People are often given some opportunity to gain something or some position. With the opportunity, the person must be willing to step out and do some work to gain it or take it.
Although many would love to have what is being offered, very few will take possession of it. Most desire to have it completely handed to them free of any work on their own part.
As many of the tribes of Israel had taken possession of the new land, some did not. Joshua asked them how long they would wait to take possession of the land God had given them.
Believers are given many promises by God, but very few will actually take hold of those promises and claim them as their own. People want things handed to them by God without any work on their own part or change in their life.
A few of the things God wants to give His people are no fear, a living heart, boldness, peace, and physical provisions. Just as some of the tribes of the Israelites held back on taking possession of the land, many believers hold back on taking what God has offered.
Jesus did the work of removing sin and the power of sin, but the believer must be willing to step out in faith and take the blessings of His work. It is a self-choice to not fear, or to be bold, or to have peace.
All one has to do is go in and claim it and take possession because God has already given it to him. One should not wait to get what God has for him.
If you have chosen to believe in Jesus, God has many things to give you. Each day you have to choose as to whether you will take possession of what God has for you or if you will reject it and keep waiting for something to change.
Do not allow yourself to sit back and do nothing when God has given you a promise. Seek God’s wisdom and timing and then go out and claim that promise, whatever it is.
Live your life in the fullness of all that God has to offer you.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know the promises of God to you; that you will claim what God has promised you; that you will not fear taking what God offers to you; and that you walk in the boldness and strength of God.
Ephesians 5:15-16 Make Wise Choices
Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. Ephesians 4:15-16
Every day people get tired from working. They want to sit back and just relax, doing nothing.
While this sounds great, it often leads to trouble. When a person begins to relax, he lets his guard down and allows himself to do things that he would not normally do or knows he should not be doing. He will lose himself in relaxation becoming lazy, rather than doing things that are actually profitable to himself and others.
Paul warns the people to be very careful on how they live. They are to be wise in their choices so that they can make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil.
During times of relaxation and shutting down, people will often get bored and allow themselves to do things that are sinful. The mind starts to work overtime on getting them to think immoral, sexual thoughts. They seek ways to entertain themselves that causes them to take their eyes off of God pulling them away from God. They choose to not read the Bible, pray, or be a witness.
God wants every believer to know Him, live like Him, be His witness and disciple others. No matter how long a person has lived, he can never fully perfect and complete all of these tasks that God wants him to do.
When a believer has chosen to not do the things God has called him to do, he is becoming unwise and living like the world. He is falling into the evil and evil ways of this world.
In order to live for God, one has to keep his eyes open, being very careful and being wise as he makes the right choices to use every opportunity that God puts in his path to accomplish God’s will. You will have times that you will want to stop and relax. This can be good, but keep yourself alert to what the world will try to get you to do.
Do not allow yourself to take your eyes off of God and His desires for your life. Ask God to reveal to you every opportunity He allows you to have to fulfill His purpose for your life.
Do not go back to the sinful ways of the world, but live as a wise believer following and obeying God.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will know God’s purpose for your life; that you will live as Jesus lived; that you will be wise in God’s eyes; and that you will keep your eyes on God and away from all evil.
Ezekiel 3:18 Accountability In Warning
When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. Ezekiel 3:18
Warnings are found everyone and on everything. The government has required that companies give all types of warnings for nearly every possible situation that could occur negatively.
When there is no warning and something bad occurs, the company can be held reliable for the bad situation and be made to pay for it. These warnings must include every thing, regardless of how simple or complex it is, or whether it is common sense or not.
God told Ezekiel that he would have to go and speak to the people whether they would listen or not. If he was told to warn them about their sin and he did not do so, he would be held accountable for their death in sin, because he did not give the warning.
God still gives people warnings. As Jesus left the earth, He charged the disciples, and all believers, to be a witness. They were to bring the gospel news to every person. This gospel message would be that they were dying in sin and needed to repent and turn to God, believing in Jesus for their salvation.
This message is a warning. Every believer is still held accountable for when they obey that commission or do not obey it. If they do not bring the gospel message to a person, when given the opportunity, they will be held accountable for that person’s death in sin.
Doors to be a witness will be opened every day by God for every believer. Each one must be willing to do his part, whether the people will listen or not. Every person needs an opportunity to choose to accept or reject Jesus.
You have also been given the same mission to be a witness for Jesus to the lost. As God opens a window of opportunity to be His witness, you must take it. Do not allow the opportunity to pass. If you do, that person’s death in sin will be on your head. God will hold you accountable for not being His witness.
Be willing to talk about Jesus to everyone you meet. Do not allow yourself to become accountable for the death of a soul, because you chose not to speak.
I pray today that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that God will reveal opportunities to be His witness; that God will give you His boldness to be a witness; and that you will speak God’s word to everyone you meet.
1 Samuel 26:23 Turning Down Revenge
The LORD rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The LORD delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed. 1 Samuel 26:23
Revenge is what a lot of people want and will take if given the opportunity. They will strive to get back at a person who has done wrong to them. Often people think it is their right to be able to strike back at the enemy or any person who has done some wrong to them.
This revenge is often covered up by calling it justice or giving the person what he deserves.
David was being chased by King Saul to be destroyed, even though David had never did anything against the king. At one point, David and his men come upon Saul during the night, while he was sleeping, and had the opportunity to kill Saul. According to the normal customs at the time, he had that right. Yet, David does not want to even touch Saul. He chooses to turn down the opportunity for revenge and trusts God for His deliverance.
It is easy to think that God had given David the opportunity to kill Saul, yet, David would not. He was looking at something greater, God’s love for all people. David would let God deal with His enemies in His way and in His time.
Every believer will have days where the opportunity to strike back physically against his enemy will arise. He will have to make a choice as to what he will do at that time.
Following the ways of the world and striking the enemy is easy. Yet, God’s ways are to show mercy, grace, and love–refusing to strike or get revenge. Jesus later stated that the believer is to turn the cheek and forgive many times.
As a believer, there was a time when you had been an enemy of God. He could have chosen to strike and kill you many times. Yet, God did not, but chose to show you love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness.
In the same way God has shown you mercy and grace, you must also show that same mercy and grace towards those who are your enemy. Allow God to be the one who will strike your enemies in His time and way.
Chose to turn down the opportunity for revenge and allow God to work through you to show His love and mercy. It can change the hearts of people.
I pray today that you will know God’s love and mercy in your life; that you will show His love and mercy to your enemies; and that you will trust God to deliver you from your enemies in His way and time.
Insights From Tom 